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Entries from June 2015

June 29, 2015

Editor's note: A few months ago, our CEO Robin Robertson Starr wrote the essay below in response to a call for stories issued following an installment of "My Big Break," a special series for which NPR's All Things Considered is collecting "stories of triumph, big and small." This June marked Robin's 18th anniversary as our chief executive. In honor of that milestone, we're sharing this piece, a story which may be familiar to longtime readers, of Robin's Big Break.

Photo of Robin Robertson Starr and her beloved Snap by Karen Gammon

Almost 18 years ago, I left the law firm in which I was a partner and went to work at the Richmond SPCA for the well being of our magnificent companion animals because of the influence of one cat, our beloved Snap. It goes back to a beastly hot July day in 1991, that happened to be my birthday, when my husband and I took a walk near our home. We passed a construction site and heard noises coming from a cardboard box that was on the ground and taped shut. Inside, we found three kittens near death from the intense heat and dehydration. We took them home, cooled them down, fed and watered them and named them Snap, Crackle and Pop (three kids in a cardboard box). The next day, I took them to the Richmond SPCA, an organization I had never had any relationship with previously. I was told that they had zillions of kittens and that I could leave these three adorable creatures but they would likely be “euthanized.” I was shocked and dismayed. I took the three of them back home with me. I did not know at that moment what I would do with them but I knew I would not allow them to be killed. Ultimately, I found good homes for Crackle and Pop. Snap became our beloved family member and the queen of our home.

Snap grew to be both elegant and adorable – the Audrey Hepburn of the feline world. While she was just a brown tabby with no particularly distinguishing appearance, she had such grace and gentility that she seemed exquisitely beautiful. She was always loving but also reserved and very refined. I came to realize that, because of humans and their shocking irresponsibility and brutality, Snap nearly died. I began to read more and understand the factors causing the enormous loss of life of dogs and cats in shelters. I was horrified to recognize that I myself had grown up in a family that bought puppies from breeders while magnificent animals like Snap began life with little or no chance for survival. My family had loved animals but we had had no comprehension of their plight.

With a raised consciousness, I sought election to the Board of Directors of the Richmond SPCA. After joining that Board, I became more deeply committed to animal welfare and more concerned about the sluggishness and inadequacy of the animal welfare field’s response to what I saw to be a true crisis. Millions of animals, just like my precious Snap, were dying every year for no better reason than they lacked a home. When my predecessor announced her retirement, I decided that I wanted to devote the remaining years of my professional life full time to this cause and I became the Chief Executive Officer of the Richmond SPCA.

In the years since then, the Richmond SPCA has become a no-kill humane organization and a national leader of the no-kill movement. We now save the lives of about 3,700 homeless animals each year with a save rate of more than 97%. The only animals that are euthanized in our humane center are those who truly meet the standard for the word “euthanasia;” that is, they are untreatably sick or injured with no prospect for any life of quality, even with veterinary intervention, and are suffering. We treat and rehabilitate every treatably sick or injured animal in our care. We stand up with courage for legislation and policies that treat animals’ lives with the respect they deserve and we take on causes in our field that intimidate many others. We have had great successes in our advocacy. I am deeply proud of our organization, dedicated to our mission and have never regretted for a moment leaving the practice of law. I have come to understand the complex reasons that cause homeless animals to die in great numbers unnecessarily in so many communities across this country and have put in many years trying to change that outcome. I will continue to do so.

Several years ago, on another hot July day, our beautiful and precious Snap died of cancer at home at age 15 with our family all around her. I cannot even type those words without tears welling up in my eyes. She transformed my life. Because of her, I came to understand the suffering that we humans have selfishly inflicted on our wonderful companion animals who are our best friends. Because of her, I will continue to struggle against the people who disparage our mission for animals because they only care about people and do not appreciate all that animals do for us or believe that animals deserve our support and defense. Because of her, I will continue to pressure the people in the field of animal welfare who are content with the status quo and make no effort to change old behaviors that have produced nothing but more and more needless killing of animals in shelters.

Snap had a good, long and full life with a family who adored her and, in that, she was very lucky. But, I was the truly lucky one on that hot July day when we found her. Snap was a birthday present that set my life on a totally different course, a course that has been and continues to be immensely fulfilling. She transformed both my life and the prospects for life of thousands of other wonderful but homeless animals. She will always be alive, young and beautiful in my heart and my memory and I will never stop hearing her message.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires both your first and last name to be used as your screen name.

June 16, 2015

We are very happy to announce that 29 pets were adopted last week! We are so grateful to our amazing adoption counselors for their wonderful help uniting these pets with new, loving families. You can help spread the word about our available pets and lifesaving work by "liking" and sharing our social media posts on Facebook and tumblr. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

From top left to bottom right (pets not pictured are italicized): Amelia, Hank, Hugo, Rico, Sable, Seinfeld, Wolverine.

Our adoption center is open every day of the week: Monday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit our website to see some of our dogs and cats currently available for adoption, for directions to our Robins-Starr Humane Center, to view the programs and services we offer and more.

Adoption Specials

“Adopt A Cat Month”- All adoption fees for adult cats will be reduced by 50% throughout the month of June.

“Waggin’ Wednesdays” All adoption fees for adult dogs will be reduced by 25% each Wednesday in June.

Our friends at Best Bully Sticks are providing a special treat for all dog adopters. While supplies last, every dog adopted from our center will take home a free BullyBox treat sampler pack!

Match Finder tool

If you have not seen the pet you’re looking for among the cats and dogs currently available at our humane center, we recommend that you try our free Match Finder tool. This online tool is designed to help you find your new best friend by automatically emailing you when a pet matching your desired criteria is available. If you have any questions, please contact our amazing adoption team at 804-521-1307.

Offsite adoptions

The Richmond SPCA's mobile adoption vehicle, Tail Wag'N, will be at the Richmond Vegetarian Festival on Saturday, June 20. Stop by and enjoy food, music, speakers, vendors and much more.

In addition to having many wonderful cats at our humane center, we also have several felines at the Carytown location of PETCO. If you would like to learn more about these felines or set up an appointment to meet them in person, please call our adoption team at 804-521-1307.

Alumni updates

Our staff and volunteers love to know what our precious adoptees are up to, so please keep us posted! If you would like to share a picture or story of your adopted pet, please send us an email. If you would like to see your pet featured on one of our social media sites, please tell us in your message that we may share your update.

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

June 04, 2015

Despite weighing less than 5 pounds, Gracie is making an enormous impact on a great many human lives. She was adopted for all the reasons thousands of area families give homes to pets from the Richmond SPCA each year: love, companionship, comfort and friendship. But Cheryl and Mike Tankersley also adopted Gracie for another purpose, to provide solace to Cheryl’s special clientele at Planet Hair, the West End salon the couple own.

Cheryl specializes in fitting wigs for women undergoing medical treatments that cause hair loss, such as chemotherapy. One of her clients is Pat Manning, a member of our Board of Directors, and when Pat learned of Cheryl’s desire to have a small, calm dog who would sit with clients having their heads shaved and wigs fitted, Pat was certain that a perfect match could be found at our Robins-Starr Humane Center.

At Pat’s urging, Cheryl called Carly Sgueo, our senior manager of shelter operations, to begin looking for a candidate to adopt. Carly immediately knew that Wicket, a tiny terrier mix whom we had just brought into our care, would be a wonderful match for the Tankersleys and up for the job they had for her.

Wicket got her name from a Star Wars character, as did nine other dogs who came to us from the same crowded home. Their guardian suffered a medical emergency in late March, at which time it was discovered that she had more animals than she could care for responsibly.

Like many of her housemates, Wicket suffered hair loss from flea allergy dermatitis and had not been spayed, but in spite of this neglect, she was immediately friendly and affectionate with our staff and volunteers caring for her. Carly described Wicket to Cheryl and Mike who were eager to meet the tiny 8-year-old dog immediately after her spay surgery. However, they would have to wait.

While she was performing the spay surgery, associate veterinarian Dr. Kristen Talbott discovered and removed a mammary mass. Carly anxiously shared this news with the Tankersleys as we awaited the results of the biopsy.

Rather than being discouraged by this news, they felt even more strongly that it indicated she was the right dog for them. All were overjoyed on April 20 when the biopsy revealed the tumor to be benign, and by the end of the week, she was a permanent member of the Tankersley family.

Another touching coincidence marked Gracie’s first day at Planet Hair. Cheryl asked a new client if she would like for Gracie to sit with her while Cheryl shaved her head and fit her wig. Gracie laid calmly in the client’s lap, and she asked to know more about the dog’s story. When Cheryl shared that she had just been adopted from the Richmond SPCA, the client, Jackie Woolfolk, revealed that she is a member of our Board of Directors.

Client, Gale, enjoys Gracie's company as Cheryl does her hair.

The consolation and reassurance Gracie provides to Jackie and other women who visit the salon is a wonderful illustration of the far-reaching impact of saving the life of a deserving animal.

Gracie will also become part of Cheryl’s volunteerism with hospice patients. In the coming months, they will work toward therapy dog certification through Paws for Health, the Richmond SPCA’s pet visitation program.

Your loving gift ensures that formerly neglected pets like Gracie have the opportunity for rehabilitation that enables them to reach their full potential.

Tabitha Frizzell Treloar is the director of advancement of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires both your first and last name to be used as your screen name.

June 01, 2015

We are thrilled to announce that 63 pets were adopted last week! We are so grateful to our amazing adoption counselors for their wonderful help uniting these pets with new, loving families. You can help spread the word about our available pets and lifesaving work by "liking" and sharing our social media posts on Facebook and tumblr. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Our adoption center is open every day of the week: Monday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit our website to see some of our dogs and cats currently available for adoption, for directions to our Robins-Starr Humane Center, to view the programs and services we offer and more.

Adoption Specials

“Adopt A Cat Month”- All adoption fees for adult cats will be reduced by 50% throughout the month of June.

“Waggin’ Wednesdays” All adoption fees for adult dogs will be reduced by 25% each Wednesday in June.

Our friends at Best Bully Sticks are providing a special treat for all dog adopters. While supplies last, every dog adopted from our center will take home a free BullyBox treat sampler pack!

Match Finder tool

If you have not seen the pet you’re looking for among the cats and dogs currently available at our humane center, we recommend that you try our free Match Finder tool. This online tool is designed to help you find your new best friend by automatically emailing you when a pet matching your desired criteria is available. If you have any questions, please contact our amazing adoption team at 804-521-1307.

Offsite adoptions

The Richmond SPCA’s mobile adoption vehicle, Tail Wag’N, will be at Broad Appetit between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 7.

In addition to having many wonderful cats at our humane center, we also have several felines at the Carytown location of PETCO. If you would like to learn more about these felines or set up an appointment to meet them in person, please call our adoption team at 804-521-1307.

Alumni updates

Our staff and volunteers love to know what our precious adoptees are up to, so please keep us posted! If you would like to share a picture or story of your adopted pet, please send us an email. If you would like to see your pet featured on one of our social media sites, please tell us in your message that we may share your update.

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.